TRADITIONAL (ORAL) IZIBONGO AND MODERN (WRITTEN) POETRY IN ZULU AND XHOSA

Abstract

This paper touches very briefly upon the development of complex praise poetry from simple praise names. Comment is made on past speculation on the trends in traditional praise poetry. The effects of Westernization, the concomitant introduction of new themes in written poetry and the distinction between traditional (oral) izibongo and modern (written) poetry is discussed.